Saint Mammes 1885

Alfred Sisley's "Saint Mammes" is an oil painting on canvas, a very conventional choice of materials for the time. Look closely, and you'll see that the scene is built up through a series of discrete strokes, each a little deposit of pigment that catches the light. Sisley does not attempt to blend his colors on the canvas; instead, he relies on the eye to do that work. Note how the water shimmers, constructed from many shades of blue and green. This exemplifies the impressionist style, attempting to capture an ephemeral moment. The relative ease of oil painting made this kind of work accessible to a growing middle class, with commercially manufactured paints and canvases available widely. This created the opportunity for artists to represent their surroundings and sell their work. So, next time you see a painting like this, remember it’s not just about what's depicted, but also how the materials and processes used reflect broader social and economic shifts.